The predictive power of employment trajectories on cognition of older adults: Evidence from Chile

Chile's population is rapidly aging, with a notable increase in the older population over recent decades. The growth in the proportion of older individuals has substantial implications for physical and cognitive health, healthcare expenditures and policies, given the escalating burden of age-related health conditions. Therefore, it is critical to have a deeper understanding of factors that predict healthy aging. This study explores the relationships between employment trajectories and later-life cognitive function among Chilean adults. Using data from a sample of Chilean adults aged 60–79, this study examines employment histories spanning 36 years (1980–2015) and their associations with cognitive outcomes assessed in 2019. Applying Group-Based Trajectory Modeling (GBTM), I identify distinct employment trajectories for women and men, which I then link to cognitive function through linear regressions. Findings suggest that individuals with more sustained labor-force participation exhibit better cognitive outcomes, particularly in memory and executive function domains, with notable differences by gender. Specifically, women entering the labor-force later in life display better cognitive performance compared to women with low participation in the labor-force throughout adulthood, while men with extended employment histories show positive associations with cognition regardless of whether they exit the labor-force around retirement age or not. These findings highlight the potential cognitive advantages of prolonged employment, contributing to research on social determinants of cognition in later life. This study offers a critical input for labor, health and old-age pension policies, in an aging population such as in Chile.